Switch assembly



Dec. 8, 1959 D. F. MOYER 2,916,585

SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed June 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIOR BOBYW W Dec. 8, 1959 D. F. MOYER 2,916,585

SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed June 20, 195'?v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flax 238% z i/Z/ZMW INVENTOR United States Patent SWITCH ASSEMBLY David F. Moyer, Dayton, Ohio Application June '20, 1957, Serial No. 666,868

15 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates to a switch assembly. The invention relates more particularly to an electrically operable switch assembly, sometimes referred to as an electric relay.

In the art of electrically operated switch mechanisms it has been customary to provide an armature member pivotally carried by a support structure. The armature member being operable by magnetization'of a core which is encompassed by an electric coil. The pivotally attached armature of the conventional electrically operated relay assembly has been directly attached to switch members through insulator means or has been provided with arm members for engaging switch members for the operation thereof with movement of the armature.

Numerous problems have been involved in the conventional switch mechanisms or relays. For example, an armature carried by a support structure has, of necessity, been of such physical size or mass that speed of operation of the armature has been limited. Furthermore, a pivotally mounted armature has often failed to operate properly due to the fact that binding or resistance,

of some type has frequently occurred between the armature and its support structure. Also, a problem has existed in regard to insulation of the armature from the switch members of an assembly.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a switch assembly of the electrically operable type, the armature of which is directly and rigidly attached to a switch member and supported thereby for operation thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrically operable switch assembly having an armature which requires no guides or pivotal support members.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an armature having a minimum mass.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch assembly having a simple magnetic bridging circuit in which a movable bridge of the circuit has minimum dimensions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch assembly having a minimum number of parts or elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch assembly in which the core of the magnetic circuit and all the members of the support structure are integral.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrically operated switch assembly in which only one member or element of the assembly requires a bending operation in the formation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrically operated switch assembly in which the armature member thereof consists of a magnetizable insulator material which may be either permanently magnetized or which is instantaneously magnetizable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrically operable switch assembly in which a single armature member is firmly attached to a plurality of switch members for the operation thereof so that no intermediate connector members are necessary,

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrically operable switch assembly in which the armature is constructed of a material which, in effect, has a residual air gap within the material so that the necessity of the conventional air gap in the magnetic structure or inthe magnetic circuit of the apparatus to prevent sticking" of the armature is eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly which may have two separate magnetic cores, each of which is integral with the support structure of the assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly having a minimum physical size.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly which may have unidirectional assembly ofthe parts thereof, so that the assembly of the parts is readily adaptable to the use of automatically operating machinery.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly which may be built at low cost, is long lived, and durable. 1 v

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description. 2

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a switch assembly of this invention, the switch assembly being provided with a movable switch member and a plurality of stationary switch members.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 4. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view on a smaller scaleof a support structure and core member of a switch assembly of this invention.

Figure 7 is a front elevational-view of a switch as-' sembly of this invention having a plurality of groups of movable and stationary contact members.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on'line 8-8 of Figure 7. i I t Figure 9 is a rear elevational view of the switch assembly as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentarysectionalview taken stantially on line 1010 of Figure 7. t

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts broken away showing another modification of a switch assembly of this invention.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the modification shown in Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a switch assembly of this invention comprises support structure 16 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6 which is preferably originally a single sheet of magnetizable material. The support structure 16 comprises .a base 18. A forward wall 20 and a rearward wall 22 are normal to the base 18 and are integral therewith.

A core 24 extends upwardly from the base 18 atsubstantially the center thereof and is integral therewith. The core 24 constitutes a strip which is partially severed from the base 18 and from the forward wall 20 and then bent normal to the base 18, as best shown in Figure 6.

A pair of mounting feet 30 extend forwardly from the forward wall 20. The mounting feet 30 comprise portions partially severed from the forward wall 20 and extending in alignment with the base 18, as shown'in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6.

A mounting foot 31 extends from the rear wall 22.

sub-

The foot 31 is severed from a portion of the rear wall 22 and extends rearwardly from the base 18 in alignment therewith and integral therewith.

The forward wall 20 has an upper edge 32 and a pair of projections 33 extending upwardly therefrom at opposite sides thereof.

The rear wall 22 is shorter than the forward wall 20. However, the rear wall 22 has a central portion 34 extending upwardly therefrom to the level of the upper edge 32 of the forward wall 20. The central portion 34 has an upwardly extending projection 36 which is discussed below.

Extending upwardly from the rear wall 22 and integral therewith at opposite sides of the central portion 34 are post members 38, as best shown in Figure 6.

Encompassing each of the posts 38 and extending from the wall 22 along most of the length of each post 38 is an insulator sleeve 40, as shown in Figure 3. Encircling each of the posts 38 and the sleeve 40 thereof and resting upon the rearward wall 22 is an insulator spacer 42, as shown in Figure 2. Resting upon each of the insulator spacer members 42 and having a portion encompassing its respective post 38 is a connector lug 44 which extends rearwardly and forwardly from its respective post 38. The purpose of the connector log 44 is discussed below.

Resting upon each connector lug 44, encircling each of the posts 38, and its insulator sleeve 40 is an insulator spacer 46. Resting upon the insulator spacer members 46 and having portions thereof encompassing each of the posts 38 is a support plate 50. The support plate 50 has rigidly attached thereto a coil 52 which encircles the core 24, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the coil 52 is carried by the support plate 50 which is supported by the insulator spacer members 46 and the posts 38. Terminal leads of the coil 52 are connected to the connector lugs 44.

Disposed above the support plate 50 parallel thereto is a magnetizable cover plate 54. The cover plate 54 lies upon the upper edge 32 of the forward wall 20 and upon the upper edge of the central portion 34 of the rear wall 22 of the support structure 16. The cover plate 54 is held firmly in engagement with the walls 20 and 22 by the projections 33 and 36 which are bent over into engagement therewith.

The cover plate 54 is provided with an aperture 56 through which the core 24 extends, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, there is a magnetic air gap between the core 24 and the cover plate 54.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, encircling one of the posts 38 is an elongate tubular spacer member 58 which rests upon the support plate 50 and extends upwardly therefrom to a position adjacent the upper end of the post 38. The other post 38 is provided with a short encircling spacer member 60 which engages the support plate 50. The spacer member 60 supports a resilient contact stem or switch member 62 which has a portion thereof encircling the post 38 and the insulator sleeve 40 thereof. The contact stem 62 extends rearwardly and forwardly from the post 38, as shown in Figure 2. Encircling the post 38 and in engagement with the contact stem 62 is a spacer 64 which separates the contact stem 62 from a resilient contact stem or switch member 66. A spacer 68 engages the contact stem 66 and separates the contact stem 66 from a resilient contact stem or switch member 70, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The rear portion of the contact stem 66 is shown in Figure 3 extending angularly with respect to the other contact stems. Such an angular relationship provides greater cLelarances for connection purposes when deemed desira e.

Supported by the contact stem 70 and encircling the post 38 is a spacer 72. Thus, the spacers 60, 64, 68, and 72 and switch members 62, 66, and 70 of one post 38 comprise a stack equal to the length of the tubular spacer member 58 of the other post 38.

Lying upon the tubular spacer 58 of one post 38 and the spacer member 72 of the other post 38 is a cover strip 76.

The upper ends of the posts 38 are bent over into engagement with the cover strip 76 firmly retaining the position of all of the elements which encompass the posts 38, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Attached to the forward end of the contact stem 70 is a contact tip 84. The contact stem 66 has at the upper and lower surfaces of the forward end thereof contact tips 86. The upper contact tip 86 is normally in engagement with the contact tip 84 of the stem 7 0, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The contact stem 62 has at the forward end thereof a contact tip 88.

Attached to the contact stem 66 intermediate the ends thereof and disposed adjacent the core 24 is an armature or actuator block 90. The actuator block 90 is attached to the contact stem 66 by any suitable means. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the contact block 90 is provided with a small head 92. The head 92 extends through an aperture in a split protuberant portion of the contact stem 66 and thus firmly secures the actuator block 90 to the stem 66. The actuator block or armature 90 consists of magnetizable material which is also an electrical insulator material.

Materials having the characteristics of magnitite or lodestone may be used. A suitable material is a ceramic magnetic ferrite. This ferrite material has the general formula of (M)OFe O where M is a divalent metallic atom.

In this formula atoms of manganese, magnesium, barium, copper or cobalt, provide satisfactory magnetic materials.

The connector lugs 44 electrically connected to the coil 52 may be connected to a source of electrical energy for energization of the coil 52. It is further understood that the contact stems or switch members 62, 66, and 70 may be connected to any suitable control circuit or circuits.

When the coil 52 is properly energized, the core 24 is magnetized. Furthermore, the base 18 and the forward and rearward walls 20 and 22 and the cover plate 54 become magnetized as a magnetic circuit. Thus, the armature or actuator block 90 becomes magnetized. The actuator block 90 is thus caused to move toward the core 24 and toward the cover plate 54. The actuator block 90 is thus drawn into engagement with an edge portion of the cover plate 54 and an edge portion of the core *24, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the actuator block 90 bridges the air gap between the core 24 and the cover plate 54.

When the actuator 'block 90 is drawn into engagement with the core 24 and with the cover plate 54, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the contact stem 66 is bent so that the contact tip 86 leaves engagement with the contact tip 84 and the contact tip 86 engages the contact tip 88 of the stem 62. Thus, it is understood that upon actuation of the coil 52 the normally closed circuit between the contact stems 66 and 70 is open and the normally open circuit between contact stems 66 and 62 is closed.

In Figures 4 and 5 a switch assembly of this invention is shown which has a support structure 100. The support structure is similar to the support structure 16 shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6 except that the support structure 100 is provided with post members 102 which are considerably longer than the post members 38 of the support structure 16. The support structure 100 has a core member 104 formed in a manner similar to the formation of the core member 24. The switch assembly shown in Figures 4- and 5 is provided with a plurality of connector lugs 106 which are similar to the connector lugs 44, shown in Figure 2. The connector lugs 106 are electrically attached to connection leads 188 extending from i a coil 109 which encircles the core 104. The coil 109 is carried by a support plate 110. A magnetizable cover plate '111 has an aperture 113 through which the core 104 extends.

Each of the posts 102 carries a plurality of spacer members 112 which are of various thicknesses and which are interposed among contact stems 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126. A cover strip 128 engages the uppermost spacer-member 112 and is firmly retained by bent-over portions of the'upperends of the posts 102.

A magnetizable actuator block orarmature 130 has a pair of stems 132. The stems 132 extend between switch members 124 and 118 and are firmly attached thereto. The armature or actuator 130 and the stems 132 thereof are integral and are made of the same material.

The actuator block or armature 130 has sufiicient length to eirtend across the aperture 113 of the cover plate 111. Upon energization of the coil 109 by means of a' suitable source of electrical energy attached to the connector lugs 106, the core 104 and the support structure with the cover plate 111 are magnetized. Thus, the actuator block 130 with the stems 13*2 thereof is magnetized and drawn into engagement with the cover plate 111 and into engagement with the core 104. The actuator block 130 bridges between the core 104 and opposite edges of the aperture 113 of the cover plate 111. Upon movement of the actuator block 130 toward the core 104, the contact stems 118 and 124 are resiliently moved from engagement with the contact stems and 126 respectively and are moved into engagement with the contact stems 116 and 122, respectively.

Due to the fact that there are a plurality of contact stems attached to each of the posts 102 and to the arma-.

ture 130 and the stems 132 thereof, a plurality of switch operations occur as the actuator block 130 moves. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the posts 102 may be of any suitable ordesired length and any desired number or arrangement of contact stems may be attached to each of the ,posts 102. Also, any desired number or arrangement of contact stems or switch members may be attached to the actuator 130 for operation thereby.

Figures 7, 8, 9, and .10 show a support structure similar in most respects to the support structures 16 and 100, above described. The support structure 140 has a pair of front mounting feet 141 and a pair of rear mounting feet 143. These feet 141 and 143 are formed in the manner discussed with respect to the feet 30 of the support structure 16. However, the support structure 140 has a pair of core members as shown in Figure 8, there being a core member 142 which is bent upwardly at the central portion of .the support structure 140 and is severed from the forward'portion thereof. A core member 144 is disposed adjacent the core 142, parallel therewith and is severed from the rearward portion of the support structure 140. A coil 146 encircles the core members 142 and 144 and is carried by a support plate 148, portions of which encircle posts 150. The coil 146 is carried by the support plate 148 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the coils 52 and 109, discussed above.

A cover plate 152 is carried by forward and rearward walls of the support structure 140. The cover plate 152 is provided with an aperture 154 through which the core members 142 and 144 extend. Attached to the end of the core member 142 in any suitable manner is a shading coil 155 which encircles the core member 142. The shading coil 155 is made of any suitable conductor material such as copper or brass or the like and serves in a well known manner to cause a time relationship between the magnetic flux generated in the core 142 with respect to the magnetic flux in the core 144 when an alternating voltage is applied to the coil 146.

The posts 150 are provided with a plurality of spacer members 156 which are interposed among contact stems 158, 160, and 162, there being one contact stem 158,

6 160, and 162 attached to each of the 'posts 150, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. I

Attached to each of the contact stems is an actuator block 164 which may be similar to the actuator block 90 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Thus, upon energization of the coil 146 the actuator blocks 164 are brought into engagement with the core members 142 and 144 as the actuator members 164 bridge between the core members 142 and 144 and the cover plate 152, as shown in Figure 10.

Figures 11 and 12 show a modification of the switch assembly of-this invention. An actuator plate is attached to a. pair of contact stems or switch members 172. The actuator plate 170 is constructed of magnetizable current carrying material. However, the actuator plate 170 is insulated from the contact stems 172 by means of insulator members 174, one of which is attached to each of the contact stems 172 and is also attached to the actuator plate 170. Thus, when the actuator plate 170 is magnetized and moved toward a core member 176 by energization of a coil 178, the contact stems 172 are resiliently bent so that they are moved from engagement with contact stems 180 and are moved into engagement with contact stems 182.

Thus, it is understood that the switch mechanism of this invention is one in which the magnetizable actuator member is connected to the movable switch element and carried thereby for operation thereof. No support for the actuator member or armature, other than attachment to a switch member or members, is required.

The actuator blocks or armatures 90, 130, or 164 may be made of a permanently magnetized material or of a material which is only momentarily magnetizable.

The permanently magnetized material is particularly suitable for devices which are referred to in the trade as polarized relays. Such devices have positive actuation upon energization of an operating coil by current flow in one direction but are not positively affected by current flow in the opposite direction.

Due to the fact that the actuator blocks 90, 132, and 164 consist of a material which has the characteristic of an effective residual air gap therewithin the necessity of providing the customary air gap in the magnetic circuit of the assembly is eliminated.

It is also understood that the switch assembly of this invention may be readily constructed by means of automatically operating equipment, all of the elements thereof being assembled by movement in one direction.

Due to the fact that the actuator or armature is the only element which is bodily movable and due to the fact that no frictional forces occur upon the actuator member during the movement thereof, the switch assembly of this invention is long lived.

Furthermore, it is understood that the switch assembly of this invention has elements thereof which may be constructed in minimum dimensions. Each armature or actuator has minimum mass and is therefore capable of rapid operation.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A low cost high speed switch assembly having support structure, a magnetizable core carried by the support structure, a coil encircling the core, a movable current carrying switch member adjacent the core, the combination comprising an actuator of magnetizable electrical insulator material directly attached to the switch member and carried thereby for movement thereof, the actuator. being of material of the general formula .of

(M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom, the actuator being magnetizable by magnetization of the core through energization of the coil, such magnetization resulting in movement of the actuator into engagement with the core.

2. A low cost high speed switch mechanism, comprising a base, a core integral with the base substantially at the center thereof and normal thereto, a coil encircling the core, a post integral with the base and normal there to in spaced relation from the core, a current carrying switch member carried by the post and having a movable portion adjacent the core, a stationary current carrying switch member carried by the post adjacent the first said switch member, the stationary switch member having a portion engageable by the movable portion of the first said switch member, an actuator block firmly at tached to the movable portion of the first said switch member and supported thereby, the actuator block consisting of an electrical insulator magnetizable material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom, the actuator block be ing magnetized with magnetization of the core, the block being movable into engagement with the core upon magnetization thereof causing relative movement between the movable portion of the first said switch member and the stationary switch member.

3. An electric relay mechanism comprising support structure, the support structure including a base, a pair of spaced-apart wall members attached to the base and extending angularly therefrom, a core member integral with the base and extending therefrom, the core member being substantially equidistant from each of the wall members, a coil encircling the core member, a plate rigidly attached to the wall members, the plate extending from one wall member to the opposite wall member, the plate having an aperture therein through which the core member extends, there being a space between the core member and the plate, there thus being a magnetic air gap between the core member and the plate, a plurality of switch members carried by one of the wall members, each of the switch members extending parallel to the plate, a magnetizable armature attached to at least one of the switch members and carried thereby for operation thereof, the armature being movable toward and away from the core member, the armature being of sufficient size to be engageable with the core member and the plate at the same time, the armature being brought into firm engagement with the core member and with the plate upon energization of the coil, the armature thus closing the magnetic air gap between the core member and the plate so that there is no magnetic air gap when the armature is in engagement with the core member and the plate.

4. A low cost high speed switch mechanism particularly adapted for use with alternating current energy comprising a base, a pair of magnetizable core members integral with the base and normal thereto, a coil encircling both of the core members, a disc of electric conductor material encompassing one of the core members and attached thereto, a support member attached to the base integral therewith and normal thereto, a magnetizable plate in firm engagement with the support member and extending therefrom, the plate having an opening therein encompassing the core members and the disc, there being a space between the core members and the plate, a current conductive switch member carried by the support member, a magnetizable actuator member carried by the switch member and movable into firm engagement with the core members upon magnetization thereof, the actuator member closing the space between the core members and the plate, the actuator member consisting of an electrical insulator material, movement of the actuator member causing operation of the switch member.

5. A low cost high speed switch mechanism, compris-- ing a base, a plurality of post members carried by the base normal thereto, a plurality of movable contact members and a plurality of stationary contact members carried by each post member, a magnetizable actuator block, the actuator block being attached to all of the movable contact members and supported thereby, a core member attached to the base and extending toward the actuator block, a coil encircling the core member, energization of the coil causing magnetization of the core member and the actuator block causing the actuator block to move into engagement with the core member carrying therewith all of the movable contact members so that all of the movable contact members are moved with respect to the stationary contact members.

6. An electric switch assembly comprising support structure, a plurality of movable contact members and a plurality of stationary contact members carried by the support structure, a magnetizable actuator block attached to all of the movable contact members and supported thereby, magnetizable means carried by the support structure adjacent the actuator block, magnetization of the magnetizable means causing movement of the actuator block toward the magnetizable means carrying there with all of the movable contact members so that all of the movable contact members are moved with respect to the stationary contact members.

7. An electric switch assembly comprising support structure, a movable contact member carried by the support structure, a stationary contact member carried by the support structure adjacent the movable contact member and engageable thereby, a permanently magnetized actuator member directly attached to the movable contact member and supported thereby, the actuator member consisting of electrical insulator material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom, a magnetizable core carried by the sup port structure, a coil encircling the core, the actuator member moving into engagement with the core when electric current flows through the coil in one direction.

8. An electric relay mechanism comprising a magnetizable support structure a portion of which serves as a magnetic circuit, all of the stationary elements of the magnetic circuit being rigidly attached together except for a small space between two elements in the magnetic circuit leaving an opening in the magnetic circuit, a switch member carried by the support structure, a magnetizable actuator carried by the switch member for operation thereof, the actuator being constructed of material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom which has an effective magnetic air gap therewithin so that a conventional magnetic air gap in the magnetic circuit of the support structure is not required, the actuator being movable into firm engagement with said two elements of the magnetic circuit upon magnetization thereof, the actuator thus firmly closing the opening in the magnetic circuit so that there is no air gap in the magnetic circuit when the actuator is in engagement with said two elements.

9. An electric relay mechanism comprising a magnetizable base, a pair of magnetizable wall members attached to the base integral therewith and normal there to, a magnetizable core member integral with the base normal thereto and disposed intermediate the wall members, a coil carried by one of the wall members and encircling the core member, a magnetizable plate attached to the wall members normal thereto, the plate being disposed so that the coil is intermediate the plate and the base, the plate having an aperture therein through which the core member extends, there being a space between the core member and the plate thus providing a magnetic air gap between the core member and the plate, a post integral with one of the wall members and extend ing therefrom, a current conductive switch member carried by the post, a magnetizable actuator block carried by the switch member and supported thereby for operation thereof, the actuator block consisting of electrical insulator material of the general formula of (M )OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom, energization of the coil causing magnetization of the core member and the base and the wall members and the plate, such magnetization causing movement of the actuator block into direct firm engagement with the core member and with the plate, the actuator block thus bridging the magnetic air gap between the core member and the plate so that there is no air gap in the magnetic circuit when the block is in engagement with the core member and the plate, movement of the actuator block causing operation of the switch member.

10. A low cost high speed actuatorassembly particularly adapted for use with alternating current energy comprising a magnetizable base, a pair of core members integral with the base and extending laterally therefrom intermediate the edges thereof, an electric coil encircling the core members, a closed coil of electric conductor material closely encircling one of the core members and attached thereto, a magnetizable armature movably disposed adjacent the core members and movable into engagement with the core members upon energization of the coil, energization of the coil causing magnetization of the core members.

11. An actuator assembly including support structure, a magnetizable core integrally attached to the support structure, an electric coil encircling the core, an electric conductor member movably carried by the support structure, a body of magnetizable electric insulator material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom attached to said con ductor member and carried thereby for movement thereof, a portion of the body of magnetizable material being adjacent the core, the member being moved toward the core by the body of magnetizable material upon magnetization of the core through energization of the coil.

1 An electric relay mechanism comprising a mag netizable support structure a portion of which serves as a magnetic circuit, all of the stationary elements of the magnetic circuit being rigidly attached together, the magnetic circuit including a plate having an aperture therein, a magnetic core extending through the aperture, the core being considerably smaller than the aperture so that a magnetic air gap exists between the core and the plate, a coil encompassing the core, a magnetizable actuator movably carried adjacent the core, the actuator being movable into engagement with the core and the plate upon energization of the coil, the actuator thus firmly closing the air gap between the core and the plate, the actuator being constructed of material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom which has an efiective magnetic air gap therewithin so that a conventional magnetic air gap in the magnetic circuit of the support structure is not required, there thus beingno air gap in the magnetic circuit when the actuator is in engagement with the core and the plate, the actuator readily moving from engagement with the core and the plate upon deenergization of the coil.

13. An electric relay comprising support structure including a base member, a pair of wall members integral with the base member and extending laterally therefrom, a plate attached to the wall members in spaced apart relation from the base member, the plate having an aperture therethrough, a core member integral with the base member and extending laterally therefrom, the core member extending through the aperture of the plate, a coil encircling the core member, a switch member carried by the support structure, a magnetizable actuator attached to the switch member and carried thereby for operation thereof, the actuator being moved into engagement with the core member and the plate upon energization of the coil thus causing operation of the switch member.

14. An electrically operable mechanism comprising a magnetizable base, a pair of magnetizable core members integral with the base and extending laterally therefrom, means for magnetization of the core members, a pair of wall members integral with the base and extending therefrom, a plate attached to the wall members, the plate having an aperture therethrough, the core members extending through the aperture of the plate, a magnetizable actuator movably disposed adjacent the core members and the plate, the actuator being movable into engagement with the core members and the plate upon energization of the means for magnetization of the core members.

15. An electric switch assembly comprising support structure, a movable contact member carried by the support structure, a stationary contact member carried by the support structure adjacent the movable contact member and engageable thereby, a permanently magnetized actuator member of a material of the general formula of (M)OFe O wherein M represents a divalent metallic atom, the actuator being attached to the movable contact member and supported thereby, a magnetizable core carried by the support structure, a coil encircling the core, the actuator member moving toward the core when electric current flows through the coil in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,699 Harthan Nov. 28, 1916 1,622,042 Miles et a1. Mar. 22, 1927 1,947,641 Broekhuysen Feb. 20, 1934 2,102,409 Faus Dec. 14, 1937 2,235,316 Dressel Mar. 18, 1941 2,339,610 Baker Jan. 18, 1944 2,364,684 Aust Dec. 12, 1944 2,541,398 Wood Feb. 13, 1951 2,717,978 De Fligue Sept. 13, 1955 2,827,529 De Fligue Mar. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,072,714 France Mar. 7, 1954 

